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PATH to DARKNESS by Tyde
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Chapter Eleven – Brooms and Black Parchment
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After the confounding powder incident in first year Severus found it a lot easier being a Slytherin. By his fifth year it became tradition for the prefect of the time to inform all new Slytherin students that they were required to be anointed by Severus Snape, the grandson of Miliana Joxer, to seal their fate of being a Slytherin forever. Snape thought this a little over the top but all of the students seemed to revere him as if he had a Merlin-like quality so he just shrugged it off. Sure he began to feel a little guilty about the swiftie he had pulled those years ago but he decided that it was better than having to be on his toes all the time in the house of students that were supposed to be his friends.
He hadn't forgotten about his vow to catch out the Gryffinflaws. In fact every weekend he'd sneak around after them but they always seemed to know the right corner or right tree to disappear behind so he always ended up empty handed. Quirrell begged him to give up and to concentrate more on his Quidditch training as the first game was coming up in just a few weeks.
At the end of Severus's fourth year one of the beaters for Slytherin team, Mevlin Pucey held tryouts for his position on the team for the following year. He said after years of getting hit by bludgers that it would be best to spend his last year at Hogwarts with all bones in tact and what little sense hadn't yet been knocked out of him, in his head where it belonged. Snape had always fancied himself as a Chaser but to his surprise was considered the best of the lot to tryout and was established on the Slytherin Quidditch team for when he started fifth year. He didn't really expect to get the position of Beater. All those times he practised goal shooting with his father seemed a waste of time after he was given the position of Beater. But to his delight he discovered all the years of slamming home a goal had readied his arm to be a powerhouse with a bat. In fun games they had held on the weekends he'd always played Chaser on the other team and tried to accidentally injure the Chaser trio of Ogilvy, Kalied and Mather that had been firmly ensconced on the Slytherin Quidditch team since their second year. This of course never worked and he was usually left with nothing but bruises for his efforts.
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Slytherin hadn't won a Quidditch cup or the House cup in over 10 years and Severus was determined that this year they would crack the big one and win both. However he seemed to be having better luck with points deducted than having them added as his misadventures after the Gryffinflaws landed him in trouble (and indeed detention) time and time again. Since their potions extravaganza in second year Snape had spent less time with Lucius Malfoy and more time convincing Dumbledore that he was worth the time and effort to remain at Hogwarts. This of course didn't stop him from getting into the odd patch of trouble here and there and if he had to weed the groundskeeper's pumpkin patch one more time the Muggle way he thought he would scream.
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All practices for Quidditch had been called off that afternoon as the stadium was being prepared for Puddlemere United's exhibition of Quidditch moves. Lately games between all the houses seemed to be turning into more of a pub brawl and Dumbledore called upon his favourite team to remind the students what the game was all about. There was a great buzz through the students all day, especially a fourth year Hufflepuff named Bagman who made sure that everyone was aware that the coach for Puddlemere had expressed interest in his playing. Quirrell had told Snape that it was actually the coach of the Chudley Cannons who, although had a history of winning finals, hadn't actually won one since 1892. They won a game here or there but it was general consensus that they were the worst team in the league.
The weather proved to be very cooperative that evening and the headmaster decreed that they would all be having a picnic out on the school grounds instead of dinner in the Great Hall. Fairy lights (with actual fairies of course) adored the bushes and trees of Hogwarts grounds and striped picnic blankets of house colours covered most of the grass. Snape settled down on a blanket with Quirrell, Malfoy and Goyle and they started hoeing into the drumsticks. Not far off from their spot sat four Gryffindors of whom Severus was only too familiar. Their conversation drifted his way and he scowled in their general direction. They looked awfully proud of themselves as if they'd just invented the wand or something.
'You're really wolfing that down Remus' Peter sputtered while trying to swallow a mouthful of moon cider.
'Most certainly Peter. This is quite a delicious ratatooie' He grinned at the short podgy boy.
Sirius looked over at the two of them with a chuckle and then turned to Potter. 'Be a deer James and pass the pumpkin juice would you?' Sirius almost snorted mashed potato out of his nose.
'Oh Sirius you old dog, of course I will!' More giggling issued from the foursome.
Snape narrowed his eyes at the little laughing group. There seemed to be some incredibly funny joke that they were letting no one in on. He noticed Dumbledore approach them and he licked his lips in anticipation but all Dumbledore said was 'Good to see you're feeling better Remus' with a twinkle in his eye before going to the aide of a hapless Professor Flitwick who was being dive bombed by owls looking for a tasty treat.
'Oh I say, that it quite ridiculous! I'm a Hogwarts Professor – NOT a rabbit! Get away!'
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'Good evening everyone. It is with immense pleasure that I welcome to the Hogwarts stadium the players from Puddlemere United.' Dumbledore's voice reverberated off the goal posts and seating. 'After rather a lot of scrappy playing from all our students I thought it best to learn from the best. Please welcome Pud United's Chasers – Pilkington, Johnson and Bones!' Three flashes of navy blue zoomed out onto the pitch and starting circling around. 'They will now demonstrate to you the Wollongong* Shimmy.'
Pilkington and Johnson acted as opposing team members while Bones zig-zaged up and down the length of the stadium with the quaffle firmly under his arm. After a few minutes or so it was easy to see that Pilkington and Johnson were getting dizzy from their team mate's diversionary tactics and they started to sway on their brooms. Bones took the opportunity to shoot the quaffle straight through the goal post with no one hindering him. The school erupted into cheers and waited in anticipation for the next move. Dumbledore announced the Seeker and as she came out into the light everyone gasped at her size. She was about the same size as Profesor Flitwick and darting back and forth so fast on her broom that she was just a blur.
'That ought to help her be the first to get to the snitch. No wonder Pud win so often' Quirrell whispered in Snape's ear in awe.
Johnson threw the snitch into the air and McDai whizzed after it. The crowd soon lost sight of it and they instead locked their eyes on the Seeker who was feverishly scanning the grounds. Suddenly she dropped into a dead-on dive that was heading her straight for the pitch. Closer and closer she came to the grass and over in the Gryffindor stands Pettigrew covered his eyes with his hands. 'She's going to crash, I just know it' he whimpered. And indeed it did appear that way. A split second before the Puddlemere United Seeker would have been a puddle on the ground she pulled out of the dive and soared up high again. A collective gasp issued from the crowd and with applause ringing in her ears she waved at the Hogwarts students.
'That breathtaking move was none other than the Wronksi Feint, a Seeker move designed to make the opposing team's Seeker crash into the ground. Named after Josef Wronski who first exhibited the move in the World Cup match of 1857, in effect winning Poland their first World Cup title and knocking the English Seeker out for a good two weeks.' There was scattered laughter in the crowd.
For the next two hours the Puddlemere United team were put through their paces showing moves like the Dopplebeater Defence, the Double Eight Loop and the Transylvanian Tackle just to name a few. Madam Hooch noticed the Quidditch captains of each house team had a quill and parchment resting on their knees as they hurried to write down notes. Maybe I'll see more Porskoff Ploys and less Quaffle-pocking fouls she mused.
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Severus's arm ached beyond anything he'd felt before. He'd been hitting Bludger's here, there and everywhere for the last two hours and still Slytherin's Seeker was no closer to locating the Snitch. As yet another Bludger flew in the direction of Ogilvy he directed his broom so he could once again save the pretty face of the Chaser. She winked at him in thanks and he felt a slight wave of happiness but nothing compared to the way he felt when Lily did the same thing. All they had in common now was Potions and Transfiguration classes. They'd taken different electives and saw each other less and less. A wink from her was a rare occasion and it was something that would fill his soul with a feeling of elation. All third year she'd avoided him. His pranks with the potions book had scared her a little and she decided if she wanted to stay in one piece it was best to avoid him. During fourth year she'd relaxed a little and every few weeks or so they'd meet up in the library for a little study session. He amazed her with the amount that he'd learned since their last meetings and she began to think maybe he knew more potions than even Professor Pomfrey did. The Snitch winging by his eyeline caught his attention and he hissed in Janvier's direction. 'Looking for something?' he mouthed while nodding in the direction of the glittering ball. Janvier's eyes lit up and she sped forth snatching the Snitch out of the air before the Ravenclaw Seeker even had a look in.
'As Janvier catches the Snitch it looks like Slytherin is off to a good start for the season by winning this game' An energetic Madam Ixilee announced. 'Don't worry Ravenclaw, you'll get them next time!'
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Have you forgotten?
The note had just appeared one day in late April on his bed. He didn't know how it had gotten there and Quirrell's face held a bewildered look when Snape questioned him about it. It looked to be the same writing as the one he'd received at the end of first term in second year. He'd kept that one at the bottom of his drawer and he dug it out now to compare the writing. Identical, and after two years the green ink still shimmered up at him. He turned the new note over and discovered more words.
Don't lose it.
'Lose what?' he asked out aloud. 'The note? What have I forgotten?' Now that he had two notes they puzzled him all the more. Someone was watching him, knew him and they'd seen him forget something. But what on earth had he forgotten? He couldn't very well try to not lose it if he'd already forgotten it now could he? Shaking his head he stuck the notes under some spare robes in his drawer and climbed up the ladder to the common room. It was bustling with energy and sweets from Hogsmeade. Slytherin was celebrating and as they saw Severus emerge from the depths they pulled him in to the melee with a loud cheer.
'Three cheers for Snape, the Beater who downed Potter'. He found a Butterbeer bottle being pressed into his hands and slaps on his back. 'You broke the decade drought and Gryffindor are eating humble pie. Thought that ickle Potter could win them the final match? Not with concussion he can't!' Malfoy cheered as he congratulated his friend on helping Slytherin finally win the Quidditch Cup. In a daze Snape gulped down some Butterbeer with a victorious smile plastered on his face. He didn't notice the corner of black parchment sticking out of Lucius Malfoy's robes.
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Author's note: *I don't know why but in the Quidditch Through the Ages book that was released they spelt Wollongong wrong. In the book it has two o's at the beginning where there should only be one. I tried to write a whole Quidditch game, truly I did, it just sucked, so I hope this is okay.
Carasiel – Don't we all love the dark, death-eater Snape the best though? With those dark brooding looks and those sexy eyes and then the nakedness...losing myself for a minute there. He slowly darkens, see-saws a little even...but he's still in love with Lily. What a conundrum!
CrinkleCutRuffles – None of your business! Hehehe, just kidding. No it's not going to turn into slash although Snape and Malfoy would be an interesting combination with their contrasting appearances. And Lily is spending more time with her fellow Gryffindor's like she should do. I almost keep forgetting that Slytherin and Gryffindor are mortal enemies. Besides this potion book debacle got her pretty upset of course. It's gonna be a lot of see-sawing back and forth between friendship and fighting. Kinda like an episode of some TV show where there is sexual tension between the two main characters and once they get together it all goes downhill so the writers hold off for as long as possible. It might happen...it might not. *insert evil cackle here*